GK Quiz | 22 October 2020

Q1. Consider the following statements with reference to the Antitrust Laws:

1. These apply only to marketing industry.
2. These prohibit a number of business practices that restrain trade.
3. These laws make sure that healthy competition is allowed to flourish.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1,2 and 3

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About Antitrust Laws:

• These are regulations that monitor the distribution of economic power in business.
• These laws apply to nearly all industries and sectors including transportation, manufacturing, distribution, and marketing.
• These prohibit a number of business practices that restrain trade.
• Antitrust laws make sure that healthy competition is allowed to flourish and economies can grow.

So, statement 1 is incorrect and statements 2 and 3 are correct. Hence, option C is correct.

 

Q2. Which of the following countries does the Tropic of Cancer passes through?

1. Taiwan
2. Nigeria
3. Myanmar

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 2 only
3. 1,2 and 3
4. None

Solution: A)

Explanation:

About the Tropic of Cancer (also Known as the Northern Tropic):

• It is the most northerly circle of latitude on Earth at which the Sun can be directly overhead.
• Sun is directly overhead here when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun to its maximum extent (June solstice).
• It passes through the following countries:
• In Africa: Algeria, Niger, Egypt, Mauritania, Western Sahara, Libya, Mali.
• In Asia: Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates(UAE), Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Taiwan, China.
• In North America: Bahamas, Mexico

• Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Red Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Taiwan Strait are the water bodies that lies on the Tropic of Cancer.

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q3. Consider the following statements:

1. Nazca Lines are a group of very large geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in Northern Sudan.
2. Geoglyphs are the fragments of ancient pottery.
3. Nazca lines were declared a World Heritage Site in 1994.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 2 only
3. 1,2 and 3
4. 3 only

Solution: D)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: Recently, a giant cat geoglyph was discovered on a hill at the famous Nazca Lines site in Peru.  The site is around 450 km away from capital Lima.

About Nazca lines:

• These are a group of very large geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru, were first discovered in 1927.
• These were declared a World Heritage Site in 1994.

Geoglyphs are the large designs made on the ground by creators using elements of the landscape such as stones, gravel, dirt or lumber.

So, statements 1 and 2 are incorrect and statement 3 is correct. Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q4. With reference to the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, consider the following statements:

1. It is a multi-purpose irrigation project in Tamil Nadu.
2. It is aimed to make Tamil Nadu drought-proof by harnessing the flood waters of the Kaveri.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: D)

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2: About Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project:

• It is a multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River in Kaleshwaram, Bhoopalpally, Telangana.
• Originally, it was called Dr. B R Ambedkar Pranahita Chevella Sujala Sravanthi Project in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. In 2014, it was redesigned, extended and renamed as the Kaleshwaram project in Telangana.
• The project starts at the confluence point of the Godavari River and Pranahita River.
• It is aimed to make Telangana drought-proof by harnessing the flood waters of the Godavari.
• Once completed, it will be the world’s largest irrigation and drinking water system.

So, both statements are incorrect. Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q5. Consider the following statements about COVIRAP:

1. It can be operated only by a molecular biologist.
2. It is not suitable to be used in rural areas.
3. This new COVID-­19 diagnostic method employed an isothermal nucleic acid amplification method.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

1. 3 only
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1,2 and 3

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Statement 1,2 and 3: Recently, the researchers at the Indian In­stitute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur have developed a new COVID­19 diagnostic method, “COVIRAP,” using a low-cost portable unit. This method has been ap­proved by the Indian Coun­cil of Medical Research (ICMR).

About COVIRAP:

• It is a new COVID-­19 diagnostic method.
• It costs less than Rs 5000 to make and the test kits will cost about Rs 500 each.
• It has 94% sen­sitivity and 98% specificity in comparison to RT­PCR.
• It can be operated with minimal training while RT-PCR needed to be oper­ated by a molecular biolo­gist,
• It requires very little equip­ment and is ideal for use in rural areas with limited fa­cilities.
• Once the sample was pro­cessed in the machine after being mixed with solutions developed by the IIT team, treated paper strips — simi­lar to the pregnancy strips —are dipped into it. The emergence of coloured lines will depict the presence of the virus.
• The machine employed an isothermal nucleic acid amplification method, which employs an approach similar to one in RT­PCR and has its advan­tages and disadvantages.

So, statements 1 and 2 are incorrect and statement 3 is correct. Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q6. Which of the following countries does not share a border with Nigeria?

1. Gabon
2. Chad
3. Niger

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 1 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. None

Solution: B)

Explanation:

About Nigeria:

• It is a sovereign country in West Africa.
• It borders Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Benin in the west, and Cameroon in the east.

Hence, option B is correct.

 

Q7.  Consider the following statements with reference to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS):

1. Under the convention, Vessels Traffic Monitoring System (VMTS) is mandatory.
2. It sets minimum safety standards in the construction, equipment and operation of merchant ships.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2:  Recently, the Ministry of Shipping has launched Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) and Vessel Traffic Monitoring System (VMTS). These are indigenous software solutions launched by Ministry of Shipping.  VTMS is mandatory under the IMO Convention SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea).

About the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS):

• The current version of SOLAS is the 1974 version (also known as SOLAS 1974) came into force on 25 May 1980.
• As of November 2018, SOLAS 1974 had 164 contracting states
• It is an international maritime treaty that sets minimum safety standards in the construction, equipment, and merchant ships’ operation.
• It requires signatory flag states to ensure that ships flagged by them comply with at least these standards.
• In its successive forms, it is generally regarded as the most important of all international treaties concerning the safety of merchant ships.

So, both statements are correct and hence, option C is correct.